Clean These 5 Forgotten Places in Your Kitchen This Weekend

The annual Kitchn Cure has come and gone, and you’ve probably moved on to thinking about things other than the state of your kitchen. After all, how much deep cleaning can you really do?

Well even in a deep clean, there are things that are easy to overlook. So to make you feel extra productive this weekend, we have five forgotten things you should clean. Don’t worry — none of them will take that much extra time, and then you can forget about them again for a while.

1. Utensil crock

Think about it — your utensil crock sits out on your counter all the time. It collects dust and dirt and probably some flour from your latest cookie-making afternoon, and you never fully empty it. So next time you’re finishing up the dishes, take all your utensils out and give that crock a good wash. Let it dry fully, preferably overnight, and then reload it in the morning. Simple!

2. Under the stovetop

I was reminded of how important it is to clean under the stovetop when we had a pest problem earlier this year. Did you know that many stovetops actually lift off completely? You don’t have to go quite that crazy, but take off your burner grates, lift up the top, and get in there with a vacuum. If there’s anything cooked on under there, give it a scrub and then reassemble.

3. Mop head

I know what you’re thinking: gross. The mop head is probably something you don’t want to deal with at all, but depending on the kind you have, it’s one of the easiest things to clean. Many of them can just go directly into your washing machine. (We recommend running it with rags, old towels, or something you aren’t too concerned about.) If your mop is really dirty, try soaking it in a bucket of hot water with some oxygen bleach, like OxiClean or OxoBrite. And if the mop is shedding it’s rope or microfiber tentacles, it’s time to get a new one.

4. Coffee grinder

Where would you be without this gadget every day? Caffeine-deprived and cranky — that’s where. But the good news is that cleaning it out is incredibly easy to do. All you need is 1/4 cup of rice” Grind the rice in your coffee grinder to soak up all the oils and smells (this is great especially if you grind spices with it as well), then wipe it out with a damp paper towel. That’s it! If you want step-by-step instructions, follow our guide on how to clean a coffee grinder.

5. Water carafes, soda stream bottles & Brita pitchers

If you keep any kind of water bottle, carafe, or pitcher in the fridge, it should be part of your normal dishes routine, but we’re going to guess that it gets overlooked occasionally. When you’re washing your utensil crock this weekend, add your water carafes to the pile as well. Or if they are dishwasher-safe (and you have a dishwasher), it’s even easier.

Any other suggestions for often-neglected things in your kitchen that really need to be cleaned?